Thursday, March 27, 2014

Galactic Kampaigns - Part 3: Mission Creep

This post will cover the various Mission assignments, tailored for the Galactic Knights rules from Monday Knight productions. Once again, this is largely stolen, err, borrowed from Star Navy 5150, by Two Hour Wargames, which is itself highly recommended! First is some general background common to all scenarios.

Map

The Campaign map from Star Navy 5150 is used, minimally modified, as shown below. The Coordinates correspond to die rolls, 2 D6 of different colors (I have used red and blue for my example).

6

5

4

3

2

1

6

5

4

3

2

1

@

Thus the 1,1 coordinate is the planet itself, and the other 3 grey shaded boxes represent close orbits around the planet, and the next 5 boxes adjacent to those represent high or distant orbits around the planet. Movement on this map is from box (coordinate) to box, including on the diagonal. The minimum number of ships for a player force moving on the campaign map is three; if you have fewer than 3 ships remaining then they must all operate together.

PEFs

Star Navy uses Possible Enemy Forces (PEFs) to represent potential but unverified/unknown enemy contacts; some of these may turn out to be false alarms, and others will be determined to be actual enemy ships of varying types and numbers. We will do the same, using their system.

PEFs are generated at the start of each mission, and are placed randomly on the map according to the individual Mission guidelines. There may be more than one PEF in any given box. PEF's may also be generated when doubles are rolled for the activation/movement of forces on the Campaign Map.

If doubles are rolled for Activation, AND the D6 roll is less than or equal to the current enemy Campaign Morale, an addition PEF is placed. Roll 2 D6 of different colors to determine the box for placement of this new PEF.

Each PEF is assigned an initial (surrogate) Crew quality by rolling 2 D6 and taking the higher score; rolls of 6 are treated as a "5". If/when the PEF is resolved to be actual ships, this temporary value is no longer used, but rather the Crew Quality of the force's Flagship is used instead (see below).

Activation

Both player and non player forces will move on the map; non player forces may be PEF's or confirmed actual ships. Choose two dice of different colors, one each for the Player and Non player forces - say, white for the Player and black for the Enemy. At the start of a Mission and for each turn thereafter, roll the two dice together. Doubles are re-rolled, BUT they may result in the generation of new Enemy PEF's!. The side with the higher die roll determines who will Activate first. Only PEF's or ships with a Crew Quality higher than the die foll for their side can be activated (and thus move) - Raw = 2, Green = 3, Veteran = 4, Elite = 5. Once one side has moved all eligible forces/PEF's, the other side does so.

Moving PEF's

PEF's move when activated (see above). They do so by rolling 2 D6 against the current enemy Campaign Morale. Zero, one or two of the dice may score equal to or below the current enemy Campaign Morale. Consult the PEF Movement table for the Mission in question, and then move the PEF as directed.

Moving Enemy Ships

This is done in the same fashion as for PEF's, but by rolling against the Crew Quality of the Flagship of that force.

Moving Player Ships

Activated player forces may move 1 box in the direction of their choice each turn they are active; this movement is optional.

Contact!

Whenever a PEF enters a box on the Campaign Map containing Players ships (or vice versa), then the PEF must be resolved to determine if it represents actual ships, or was just a sensor bogey, and if actual ships, exactly how many and of what type and Crew Quality. The PEF is the removed and replaced with a marker for the actual ships, if any. Whenever player and non player ships (including those of previously resolved PEF's) are in the same box, then all Campaign Movement ceases and a tabletop battle is generated and fought using Galactic Knights. Play on the Campaign Map then resumes.

The Missions:

PATROL

This is always the first Mission of a campaign, and is performed with a single squadron. Subsequent missions will be determined based upon the table already presented in Part 2 of this series. In the tables, "Scores": refers to the number of D6 that rolled less than or equal to the current enemy Campaign Morale.

Objective: To patrol the map and then return to your planet (If you are contesting the system, consider the planet in this scenario to be your local base of operations). When no PEF's are left on the map, the Mission is over.Forces: You will patrol with a Squadron.Deployment: Your forces will start in one of the Grey sections of the map. Generate 3 enemy PEF's and place them randomly on the grid by rolling 2 D6 of different colors; re-roll any Grey section results.Special instructions: Play continues until all PEF's have been resolved, the player has been defeated, or any PEF enters the Planet box.

Scores

PEF Movement - PATROL Roll vs. Enemy Morale

2

Move 1 box towards the planet

1

Move 1 box towards the nearest player force

0

PEF does not move

Scores

PEF Resolution - PATROL

2

Contact Table: Roll 1 D6 and add Enemy Morale

1

Contact Table: Roll 1/2 D6 (round up), add Enemy Morale

0

Nothing found - remove PEF

Total

PATROL Contact

4 or less

3 ships less than your total

5 or 6

2 ships less than your total

7

1 ship less than your total

8

Ships equal to your total

9

1 ship more than your total

10 or 11

2 ships more than your total

12 or more

3 ships more than your total

ATTACK

Objective: To destroy the space station defending the planet.Forces: 1 Task Force, or more if desired.Deployment: Your forces start in section 6-6; after the Mission starts, it may be divided as desired. Generate 3 PEF's and place them randomly, re-rolling any results in the grey areas. Also place an enemy Space Station (see below) in the Planet box (1-1).Special Instructions: Play continues until the Space Station has been destroyed, or the player has been defeated, or has insufficient force left to be able to destroy the station.

DEFEND

Objective: Prevent the enemy from destroying the space station defending the planet.Forces: 1 Task Force, or more if desired.Deployment: Your forces start in any one of the grey boxes; after the Mission starts, it may be divided as desired. Also place a friendly Space Station (see below) in the Planet box (1-1). Generate 3 PEF's and place them randomly, re-rolling any results in the grey areas.Special Instructions: Play continues until the Space Station has been destroyed, or all enemy forces have been destroyed.

Scores

PEF Movement - DEFEND

2

Move 1 box towards the planet

1

Move 1 box towards the planet or the nearest PEF, whichever is closer

0

PEF does not move

Scores

PEF Resolution - DEFEND Roll vs Enemy Morale

2

Contact Table: Roll 2 D6 and add Enemy Morale

1

Contact Table: Roll 1 D6 and ad Enemy Morale

0

Nothing found - remove PEF

Total

DEFEND Contact

4 or less

2 ships less than your total

5 or 6

1 ship less than your total

7

Ships equal to your total

8

2 ships more than your total

9

3 ships more than your total

10 or 11

50% more ships than your total

12 or more

Twice your number of ships

HUNT

Objective: Hunt down and Destroy any Raiders/Pirates in the area. To be a success, all PEF's must be resolved, and all opposing ships destroyed or driven off the map.Forces: 1 Task Force. Enemy forces will be generated as usual, BUT Crew Quality will be one LESS than otherwise determined.Deployment: Your forces start in any one of the grey boxes; after the Mission starts, it may be divided as desired. Generate 3 PEF's and place them randomly, re-rolling any results in the grey areas.Special Instructions: Play continues until all Raider/Pirate ships have been destroyed or driven off the map, or the player has been defeated.

Scores

PEF Movement - HUNT

2

Move 1 Box away from from the nearest player force; if on the edge of the map AND there is a player force in an adjacent box, leave the map (remove PEF).

1

Move 1 box towards the planet

0

PEF does not move

Scores

PEF Resolution - HUNT Roll vs. Enemy Morale

2

Contact Table: Roll 1 D6 and add Enemy Morale

1

Contact Table: Roll 1/2 D6 (round up), add Enemy Morale

0

Nothing found - remove PEF

Total

HUNT Contact

4 or less

50% less shuips than your total

5 or 6

25% less shipsthan your total

7

3 ships less than your total

8

2 ships less than your total

9

1 ships less than your total

10 or 11

Ships equal to your total

12 or more

3 ships more than your total

CONVOY

Objective: Escort a Convoy of six Merchant/Transport ships* To be a success, you must escort the ships from the planet to box 6-6 and backForces: 1 Task Force, PLUS the convoy (see below).Deployment: Your forces start in any one of the grey boxes; after the Mission starts, it may be divided as desired. Generate 3 PEF's and place them randomly, re-rolling any results in the grey areas.Special Instructions: Play continues until the Merchant ships have completed their journey. Major Victory = 5 or 6 ships complete the journey safely, Minor Victory = 3 or 4 ships complete the journey safely, Failure = 2 or less ships complete the journey safely.

Scores

PEF Movement - CONVOY

2

Move 1 box towards the convoy

1

Move 1 box towards the convoy or the nearest PEF, whichever is closer

0

PEF does not move

Scores

PEF Resolution - CONVOY Roll vs. Enemy Morale

2

Contact Table: Roll 2 D6 and add Enemy Morale

1

Contact Table: Roll 1 D6 and ad Enemy Morale

0

Nothing found - remove PEF

Total

CONVOY Contact

4 or less

3 ships less than your total

5 or 6

2 ships less than your total

7

1 ship less than your total

8

Ships equal to your total

9

1 ship more than your total

10 or 11

2 ships more than your total

12 or more

3 ships more than your total

The above is adapted from Star Navy 5150 from Two Hour Wargames. Once again, I strongly suggest purchasing a copy or PDF if you are interested in this campaign system (or the space combat rules themselves, which have been reviewed previously on this blog).

*The next post will cover Post Mission events, and hopefully some rules for Space Stations and Merchant Ships for Galactic Knights.

As a teaser, here are some pictures of the elusive Entomalian "Web" Space station.

Back when I bought my original ships as part of the the Superior "Starfleet Wars" line, this was one of the last releases.

The line went out of production before I was ever able to get one, or, for that matter the Modular Space Station.

I happened to come across one available for sale on the Panzer Depot website a few years ago, and snapped it up. It no longer appears there.

This what it looks like unpainted and unprimed, dry fit together (see below).

Top down view.

The box the Web came in, with the Monday Knight Productions - Galactic Knights label on it; I have never seen it on their website, however.

It comes as 2 separate rings as above. The cut in the left hand one had to be spread apart a bit wider in order to assemble it.